This is the fifth album from US avant-garde black/death metal band Imperial Triumphant.
After 2020’s Alphaville, any Imperial Triumphant release is going to be much-anticipated, and now we have it; 55 minutes of new material in the form of the warped, mutating Spirit of Ecstasy. Continue reading “Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy (Review)”
Ashenspire are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
Holy crap. This is not your standard album, not at all. It’s striking, individual, shockingly emotive, and relentlessly harsh in atmosphere and tone. To set the scene somewhat – Ashenspire play a form of post-black metal with strong avant-garde, experimental, and progressive tendencies. Featuring current and ex-members of Barshasketh and Falloch, Hostile Architecture is a 44-minute journey into the contemporary urban heart of darkness. Continue reading “Ashenspire – Hostile Architecture (Review)”
Scarcity are a black metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Consisting of one 47-minute song, (which is divided into five tracks), Aveilut is an experimental black metal journey into the expansive and creative vision of Scarcity, (who contain a member of Pyrrhon/Seputus handling vocals). Continue reading “Scarcity – Aveilut (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Canadian black/death metallers Begrime Exemious.
Rotting in the Aftermath contains 37 minutes of filthy underground death metal with a raw blackened edge of ice. This is the most death metal I’ve heard the band, and they sound like they’re enjoying themselves with it. Continue reading “Begrime Exemious – Rotting in the Aftermath (Review)”
Pestilent Hex are a black metal band from Finland and this is their debut album.
Brought to us by members of Corpsessed and Desolate Shrine, The Ashen Abhorrence contains 42 minutes of authentic second wave black metal. Worshipping at the altar of the 90s classics, Pestilent Hex combine elements of bands such as Emperor, Gehenna, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir, and Arcturus, while injecting their own grim character, to produce an enjoyable slice of symphonic blackened art. Continue reading “Pestilent Hex – The Ashen Abhorrence (Review)”
Vong is a one-man black metal band from Vietnam and this is his debut album.
Apparently a demo version of this was released in 2019, but this definitive version is a complete rerecording of the songs, with some rearranging going on too.
Vong’s music is an atavistic example of the core blackened Continue reading “Vong – A Wander in Liminality (Review)”
This is the latest EP from Hulder, a one-woman black metal band from the US.
A 26-minute mini-album, The Eternal Fanfare has strong roots in the classic 90s era. It uses these influences well, but is not restricted by them. The artist behind the band clearly knows what she wants to achieve with her music, and uses influences Continue reading “Hulder – The Eternal Fanfare (Review)”
Umbra Conscientia are a black metal band from Costa Rica/Germany, and this is their second album.
Featuring current and ex-members of Corpse Garden, Nigredine Mundi contains 32 minutes of black metal that will flay your skin while it summons daemonic horrors to swallow your soul. Continue reading “Umbra Conscientia – Nigredine Mundi (Review)”
This is the second album from international black metal act Liber Null.
Brought to us by members of bands such as Fides Inversa, Frostmoon Eclipse, and Manetheren, For Whom Is the Night contains 39 minutes of lethal black metal venom. Continue reading “Liber Null – For Whom Is the Night (Review)”
This is the second album from Belgian black metal band Serpents Oath.
Ascension contains 42 minutes of second wave black metal played in the classic style.
Serpents Oath’s music is dark and aggressive. It combines lethal speed with mystical atmosphere. Blackened leads add melodic Continue reading “Serpents Oath – Ascension (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 